FREE BOAT PLANS, Boat Plans at Svenson's

http://www.svensons.com/boat/
Lot of classic plans.. power. sail, and row..
Plans is still good, may have to substitute for modern scantling and materials..

WOODEN BOATBUILDING AT HOME

This is how I built an 8ft wooden rowing boat at home, from an old boat Called Small boat building by Dave Gannaway

Marine Epoxies and Epoxy Resins

http://www.epoxyproducts.com/marine.html
Decent priced high quality epoxies. even non-blushing

Van Fancy Oars and Paddles

http://www.towerwebsites.com/websites/index.php?username=fancyoars-paddles&page=1
Fine Spruce oars from 5' - 9' even larger size from 10' - 16'

Andy's Ramblin's - Continual entrys

September, 2009 Update  (Please go to the bottom of the blog for most recent update)

March 15, 2009

One of our illustrious colleagues on WBB (Wooden Boat Builder) asked me recently how I came about choosing the Curlew as my next project to build and so I am adding this little memoir to my notes here...

It started many years ago (around 1977) because when I was around 16 years old I had a paper route and worked at a Boy Scout camp and had earned a fair amount of money.  During this time I had become, through the Boy Scouts, initiated to water sports like canoeing (heavy, almost indestructible Grumman's) and sailing (we played "pirates" on a small impound lake on Sailfish boats).  I became enamored with sailing and the concept that I could harness the wind to take me places.  So, with my hard-earned paper route money I bought a used 10' sailing dinghy built of oak ribs and mahogany plywood.  The mast was footed in aircraft aluminum and the top third of the spar was made of spruce, I think.  The boom was spruce, the mainsail was of saggy nylon, there was no jib and half of the chromed fittings were chromed no more and brass was showing through.  All of this for $100.  My Dad drove me in our F100 pickup to fetch her home.  I spent hours cleaning her up, hand-scrubbing the sail and finished by painting the hull with some aqua-blue marine paint I got at the local hardware store (I think it was Petit's). 

She was taken out to my Grandparent's summer house on Big Cedar Lake near Slinger, WI.  There I spent many happy hours on the water.  Late that fall I was up to the lake with my mom - I think she was closing up the house for the winter and helping my elderly grandparents get ready for the move back to Milwaukee.  I took the boat out for one last time.  It was a cold, grey day with steady winds.  As it was the last sail of my first season I ventured way over to the big east end of the lake where the sailing regattas were always held (I think that I was drawn there by the thought of maybe competing in some of the beginner classes) I was on a running reach and some how got knocked down by a strong gust.  I went over and started to turn turtle.  The boat had no additional buoyancy other than it was made of wood and ply.  The mast had no running rigging and so became un-stepped.  So here I am with no life jacket on, I am trying to hang on to the boat to keep from drowning and the mast because I was afraid it would sink and somehow I was trying to use my third hand to wave a red boat cushion over my head to signal anyone for help.

I was extremely fortunate that I am here today to tell this tale as a man had seen me from shore (he was probably admiring my fine little craft and my expert seamanship) as I flipped over.  He quickly jumped into his fishing boat and raced out to rescue me... I was towed back to shore shivering and freezing...  I only sailed her that one summer - she was stored first in my grandpa's garage at the lake and then got transferred to a neighbor's boathouse the following year.  I was busy doing other things and lost track of her.  I think that I eventually gave her to that gentleman's grand kids - I never saw her again...

This started my interest in building my own, more substantial boat.  A dream I carried for many years until I had built my first cedarstrip canoe (the one you see in my photo album).  It was 2004 and I had been in my professional career as a florist and greenhouse operator for several years and had managed to accumulate a fair bit of woodworking tools owing to the business and building the canoe.  Here was the time to start searching for plans to a boat that would fulfill my dreams, that didn't stretch my woodworking skills too much, and that I could afford the cost of.  I had through my later childhood and college visited the library and bookstores often, checking out books on sailing and boat-building and stumbled on Edwin Monk's book on building sixteen different small boats.  And there was the 'Curlew'!

 

The design showed a boat which didn't look too hard to build.  She was more substantial with an iron pivoting centerboard (I guess you could call it a swing keel) and I figured that I could use her on larger lakes and even sail some of the coastline of Lake's Superior or Michigan.  With the pivoting centerboard I could run her up on a beach and sail in quite shallow waters.  That late summer, I began building her in an unused 24x32' greenhouse at the back of my property on Rice Lake (in Rice Lake, WI).  As a side note I will say that that greenhouse was the best workshop I ever had.  The cover was an inflated double layer of tough, uv resistant 6 ml plastic.  During the day, even in the winter, It was very warm - at a minus 10 deg F it was still 60+ deg inside, even on a cloudy day.  I had a small used house furnace which I ran during the nights, keeping the work area around 40+ deg.   By the spring of '05 the hull was essentially finished. 

 

The failing economy (and my business) forced me to stop most of the work on Curlew.  I was having to sell the greenhouse property and try to reestablish my flower shop in a new location, move to a new home, and struggle to make a living.  At no time did the boat itself really cost me that much to build.  I had the tools, I had most of the materials other than the plywood, and I rarely spent more than an hour or two at any given time working on her.  She now sits as you know in my shop (converted garage).  We have moved to a rental place on another lake north of town where I hope to launch her this summer once I finish the deck, build the spars and rig her.  We shall see lol....

 

April 8, 2009

 

The ice is coming off of the lake finally.  I am looking forward to going for a paddle and maybe even go after some pan fish.  Bass fishing doesn't start for another month but I can still catch and release...

 

Lots of yard work to do but as I am off today I am hoping to get in the shop and do some work - maybe pull the sailboat into the driveway so I can maneuver inside and continue the cleaning/straightening project.  Work has been so busy with the new owners, inventory, getting ready for spring sales and, because of the economy, a large influx of new do-it-yourself er's trying to save money.  I am not complaining mind you.  Part of my future wages will possibly be in the form of sales incentives, i.e., the better my hardware department does, some extra will be thrown in my end of the year...  Kind of like an AIG bonus....  lol....

 

May 1, 2009

 

Well, the side and stern decks are framed in although I am probably going to add a few additional members in the bow and stern areas because of the potential for extra weight from boarding, rigging and anchoring, etc.

 

The workspace is coming along.  I managed to install the workbench under the window and hang some pegboard above it...  I have a bit more pegboard going in on the side wall - probably an area of about 3x8 ft.

 

The weekend is supposed to be beautiful!  It is the fishing opener, we are supposed to get temps up in the mid-sixties, sunny, with less wind than we have been having around here lately.  I need to get my license, maybe fish for some bluegills and crappie...

My wife is off this weekend also so we can spend a little quality time together.

 

I do have to mow three properties this weekend - the grass is really coming up and I don't want to let it get ahead of me otherwise it is extra work later.

 

 

June 27, 2009

 

As you can see from the date on the picture (yea, a new camera!) I have now installed all of the intermediate deck beams and am ready to fit the decking.

I have decided to go with plywood and cover it with painted canvas as this is more in keeping with the original design and it is much less expensive and much faster to do...

 

I am having to correct a minor error I made in the original beams...  where they butt into the sides of the hull they ended being slightly higher and at a different top angle so now as I lay the plywood down, I have a big gap all along the underside of the deck edge.

I am now using my power planer and hand plane to "shave" down the top edge of the beams and ribs so that the plywood lies flat along the hull edge...

 

July 6, 2009

 

All of the decking is roughed in.  I need to now prime and paint the undersides and then plan to attach the decking with screws and 3M 5200 sealant/adhesive.  I will post pictures tomorrow here on my blog...

 

July 20, 2009

 

The priming is done finally, now I need to move on to painting the undersides with the interior finish coat.

 

I have been very pleased using the Porch Paint from ACE.  It has performed beautifully and has developed a very tough film that I can attest to as I have bounced a few tools off of the interior bottom and floors and haven't done any real damage to the finish

 

 

July 25, 2009

 

Decking is now roughed in and I am getting ready to paint the deck framing and underside of the plywood before I screw and glue it all down.

 

I got a great bargain through work the other day.  I picked up 25 6" clamps like you see here for $1.00 apiece.  The new ones I just got actually have a bolt with nut through them instead of just a pin (which occasionally slips out).  These new clamps have about a 3" capacity and will work just fine...

 

You will see that I have some paper laid out on the starboard bench.  This is "green-line" computer paper I get as scrap from work.  It works beautifully for so many things like scratch notes, basic layout and plans, pattern making, paint catching, etc. 

 

Here is a shot of me trimming the edges of the plywood.  I am using a Stanley Low-angle block plane (I have two of them) which is just about my favorite hand tool.  I use it for so many things and not just for difficult wood grain although it excels at that.  I like it for standard edge planing too as it has a nice heft and fits comfortably in my hand.  The whole key to using planes is to keep those blades SHARP! 

 

I hand hone all of my blades.  I use a diamond stone (mine a DMT brand) for basic grinding of the blade and then switch to Arkansas soft and hard stones respectively.  I finish up by stropping the blades on an old leather harness strap.  I do not use a honing guide as I have had lots of practice at this.  I imagine as I get older and a little less steady that I might go to a guide...

 

Well, the bow section is calling my name as I need to put the final paint coat in the interior and paint the underside of the bow decking so I can get the hull closed up.

 

From this point I will finish sanding, staining, and varnishing the centerboard box.  I sealed and varnished the inside of the box (the board slot) when I put it together but I think that I am going to apply several additional diluted sprays of varnish using a tank sprayer and wand to insure as much protection as possible to a rather inaccessible area.  I will use a long bottle brush-type tool to put a final full strength coat on.  A friend put me onto the idea of using a long cotton wool swab that is used for cleaning shotgun barrels.  They hold alot of material and should work great for this application.  I will let you know after I have experimented with this idea.

 

September 14, 2009

 

The deck is on now.  I have placed a bead of PL  Adhesive on all of the tops of the beams, breasthook, etc and placed heavily galvanized screws every 4 - 5 inches.  This deck is not going to move except with a fair wind following...  lol.  All of the screw holes were filled with wood putty and I am ready to turn the hull so I can touch up the priming and paint.  I had primed the hull several years ago but because it spent a winter outside under a leaky tarp in northern Wisconsin it has come off in a few spots and I need to touch up/repair one of the plywood scarfs.

I have chosen a deep blue color as the main color with the buff (light tan) interior paint as the accent stripe and topside color.  I am going to need to recruite a few friends to assist with getting the hull over and on its sawhorses.  I figure on allowing the paint to cure about 1 - 2 weeks before righting the hull again.  I should be able to get the iron swing-keel epoxied and installed by that point and then I would like to do a trial launch to make sure the damn thing doesn't sink (otherwise its going to end up being a very expensive lawn ornament!).

 

I am very excited to get her afloat with an official launching in the spring under full sail.  This brings up a question I have - has anyone in the group had experience using the "navy" style anchors.  How well do they work?  Problems or issues?  I figure that I will need at least two anchors and with a 16' boat each one should be about 18-22 lbs.?  This is assuming that I will be doing occasional sailing on Lake Superior with stronger water movement, winds.  I have also considered the "danforth" style...  Any suggestions.

The March/April issue of Classic Yacht

Dear Subscriber,

I'd like to welcome you to enjoy the March/April 2009 issue of Classic Yacht by clicking current-issue.  We have brought several of the most experienced figures in the classic boat market together in this issue to discuss where classic boat values are in 2009, and where they're headed.  And read all about the return of Trumpy as a builder of wooden motoryachts, something that should put a smile on the face of every classic yacht aficionado.   As always, the PDF file is available for printing or reading offline.  And it's still free! 

We welcome your input.  Feel free to contact us with your take on the magazine or to tell us about a great story we can share with our readers in a future issue.  Tell your friends that their free subscriptions to Classic Yacht await them at classicyachtmag.com.  Enjoy!

All the best,

Bill Prince
Publisher
Classic Yacht magazine

Ronnie's Devlin Designed Egret

WBB member 'Ronnie' is building a Devlin designed Egret. It's a 15'-2" x 4'-10" Sail/Rowing Skiff.

"The Egret's versatility and style have made it one of our most popular boats. Presently we have Egrets in use in the San Juans, Puget Sound, Alaska, and on various lakes and rivers throughout the Northwest.

As a sailboat, the Egret is stable and quick. Up to four adults with gear can enjoy a day of sailing in comfort. The 75 sq. ft. spirit sail rig provides plenty of sail area to drive the hull. Though the Egret has double rowing stations, it is easily rowed by a single oarsman, adult or child, even with a load. For two oarsmen, the Egret is great fun and good transportation.

An offset outboard well is offered, and we have found it to have no vices in handling. Egret was my first design and she now has sisters a-plenty. For a variety of uses and conditions, Egret has a lot to offer." - Sam Devlin

Specifications
Length	15' 2"
Beam	4' 10"
Draft	7" (board up)
	4' 2" (board down)
Weight	235 lbs
Sail area	75 sq ft wind surf rig
Power	2 HP or Oars
Max. Load	690 lbs

"Working on the inside of the hull.... Projects still outstanding are the bow and stern sealed air boxes... need to install the bow eye and pintel/gudgeons before I seal the lid. Have been fairing the inside of the hull prepping for paint. Plan to varnish the gunwhales and the top 8" above the stringer/seat riser. Then need to purchase white oak to make the seat arrangement... which will have flotation boxes under the seating. Install oar locks...then it should be ready to row. Then on to the sailing parts; mast, centerboard and rudder. The time is really spent on the details, sanding, fairing etc.. You never really know how much it takes until you do it... and realize how you could of made a certain task easier if you had done it a different way the first time. But that's how you learn I guess, with no one watching over your shoulder.

For instance from the picture you see the sealed air compartment bulk head brought all the way up to the shear line... but have since cut it down to the stringer line to make the boat look more open. I am afraid that I will, or may have already made it too nice "in my eyes" and be afraid to mess it up in the water... but I am definitely looking forward to making a first splash..." - Ronnie - Houston, TX

Ronnie's Recent Photos - Ronnie's Site

Ronnie's Beginning Photos - WBB Album

Ronnie is still very excited about this project and getting her finished up for a splash. Send some words of encouragement his way for the fine work he has completed thus far. I am looking forward to the launch day photos. Perhaps we can get him to post a video when that day comes as it's getting pretty near.

Devlin Designing Boat Builders

 

 

FREE Web-based Seminar on Marine Composites: Infusion

Your Invited to Participate In a FREE Web-based Seminar on Marine Composites: Infusion

Presented by Mike Swietzer & Skagit Valley College -- March 18, at 11 a.m., EDT.

Dear Friends

As part of our commitment to education and training in the marine industry, we invite you to join us for this special session, at NO COST to you.

 

To Register,

Click HERE

Are you up-to-speed on the current state of vacuum-infusion processing? Join us on March 18 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time for a detailed look at how to set up your own shop for infusion. We'll also show you how students at Skagit Valley College are learning infusion processing, and you will see them working on a project, step by step.

This fast-moving demonstration will also describe how infusion can help you to reduce the risk of part loss while simultaneously enhancing part quality and ease of inspection. Whether you are new to infusion, an old hand, or in process of changing over to closed molding, this event will help you to anticipate the challenges and rewards of working with vacuum-infusion processing. Following the 25-minute presentation, you will have the opportunity to ask our speaker, Michael Swietzer, your questions about infusion and about the Skagit Valley College Marine Trades program.

(If you are unable to attend the "live" session, register anyway, and you will have free access to the recorded session for a period of 30 days.)

Please Contact Us for More Information:

carl@proboat.com.

45' Trailerable Sharpie Schooner "IBIS" nearing completion

Boat builder, designer, and author, Reuel Parker of Parker Marine Enterprises is presently developing a new line of Maxi-Trailerable Boats, for both sail and power. These vessels are 46' and under in length, 10' beam, shallow-draft, and 15,000 lbs or less. The concept is to provide cruising boats that can be stored on 40' 3-axle trailers, eliminating the need for slips and boatyards, which are rapidly turning into condos all over the American waterfront. The boats can be towed by a tow truck without permits or escort vehicles, or can be towed privately with only a wide load banner (no escorts).

Parker Marine is building the first prototype in Florida: a double-ended sharpie schooner based on the Straits of Juan del Fuca (San Juan Islands) halibut-fishing sharpies of Washington State in the 1880's. The new sharpie is 45' on deck, 10' beam, 2'6" draft, 14,500 lbs displacement, with an unladen trailer weight of 12,000 lbs. She is a bald-headed gaff schooner, with self-tending sails. She has a new-design centerboard made of steel and lead-ballasted which is a foil-shaped fin when down.

The boat sleeps four in two private cabins, has a hot-water-shower, solar-powered refrigeration, and carries an incredible 250 gallons of water and 80 gallons of fuel.
Auxiliary power is an Isuzu 3LD2 diesel (40hp), which will propel her at speeds over 8 knots using less than .75 gallons per hour. Plans for four new Maxi-Trailerable sharpie sailboats are now available.

You can see IBIS, the first prototype under construction at Parker Marine Enterprises, or by going to: http://schooneribis.blogspot.com.

IBIS at Parker Marine Enterprises: 

45' LOD 2009 REUEL B. PARKER SHARPIE SCHOONER

Parker Marine Entrprises Plans Page

About Reuel B. Parker

Restoring Classic Runabouts

One of my fellow members of the Indiana Chapter of ACBS has an Antique Boat Shop curiously called "The Antique Boat Shop" in Fort Wayne Indiana. They work somewhat exclusively on classic runabouts. Chris-Craft, Century, Gar Wood, etc. The do some very nice work and have a straight forward philosophy.

They have a current projects page (updated regularly) with very detailed descriptions of the boats, the individual histories, and the work intended. They also have a similar page of recent projects. There are a many interesting projects with lots of photos. I've found their project pages to be a very enjoyable read, and I know you will too.

Antique Boat Shop - Current Projects

Antique Boat Shop - Recent Projects

 

 

The Antique Boat Shop specializes in:

-"No Leak" Double-Planked 5200 Bottoms
-Plank Replacement
-Chine and Frame Repair
-Engine Remanufacturing / Detailing
-New Factory Original Matching Interiors
-Strip and Refinish
-Hardware Re-Chroming / Polishing
-Century Owners - Replacement of Vinyl Decks with Mahogany
-Beautiful Finishes

Book: Narrow Dog to Indian River

This one is for Don Theobald (our resident canal boat builder) as he would find it most interesting. Others may discover it to be quite enjoyable as well. I know I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. - Kruez

Narrow Dog to Indian River is the most recent work of Terry Darlington, a retired businessman from Stone, Staffordshire, UK.  Terry, his wife Monica and 'Jim the whippet' sail the waterways on their narrowboat (canal boat) Phyllis May.  Terry writes books; Monica acts as his manager, and Jim acts as their dog.

Narrow Dog to Indian River tells how Terry, Monica and Jim set out to sail the Phyllis May 1100 miles down the US Inter-coastal Waterway from Portsmouth Virginia to Florida.

What reviewers via Amazon (UK), had to say:

"Once again the intrepid pensioners have turned a sedate and tranquil pastime into an adventure of derring-do. The reader goes with them every nautical mile: every hazard, every encounter and all of the laughs.
The book is an odyssey, a geography lesson, an inspiration; laced with literary reference and hilarity-verging-on-farce".

"Having read and thoroughly enjoyed 'Narrow Dog to Carcassone' I was eagerly awaiting the Darlington's next adventure: "Narrow Dog to Indian River" and had it pre-ordered. It did not disappoint and was as good a book as I have ever read!

Who will enjoy this book? Anyone with an interest in boating for a start, particularly those who wondered whether narrowboats were really limited to plodding up and down the UK canal system! How wrong we were! But before you set out it makes you aware of considerations you may never have thought about! (leaping lizards Batman?)

The story is bigger than a boating adventure though because it shows us that in retirement it is still possible to push the boundaries and have real adventures! It also proves that it is possible to be extremely amusing at the same time as being extremely scared! Terry Darlington's writing style is unique and his descriptions of the people they meet on the journey are closely observed and he finds the irony in every situation".

Narrow Dog to Carcassonne was Terry's first work published in 2005.  It became a top ten bestseller in the UK and has sold over 150,000 copies. Narrow Dog to Indian River will be released this April 28th, in paperback. The hard cover released spring of last year and is currently available. You can get your copy at Amazon, or order it where ever you shop for books.

NARROW DOG - SPRING 2009

Ultralight electric kayak motor by Torqeedo

A german company 'Torqeedo' has recently (Feb 2009) added a kayak motor to it's electric outboard line. Their claim: "The first genuine kayak motor".

Ultralight electric kayak motor for most rigid kayaks; for kayak fishermen, or as a power reserve to cope with currents, winds and to increase range.

An outboard suitable for kayaks needs to meet very special standards: It must be extremely light and also watertight. The motor needs to fit onto almost any kayak. It must be faster than a kayaker can paddle, and provide a worthwhile range.

The result of these challenges is called Ultralight, which meets all these demands. It weighs only 15 lbs including battery.

Mounting: Can be mounted on most rigid-hull kayaks with stainless steel cavity dowel pins.

Steering: Steering can be locked, after which kayak is steered with the paddle or the rudder. This results in a larger radius of turn. Alternatively, the motor can be connected to the rudder or the steering system of the boat, which makes it very maneuverable (e.g. for fishing).

Watertightness: All motor components are watertight, protected against complete immersion.

Safety: The motor shuts off when the magnetic key on the remote throttle control is removed. Therefore, for safety reasons, the magnetic key should be attached to the wrist or the life vest. If the kayak capsizes, the motor shuts off automatically to avoid possible injury.

Lithium-manganese battery: Integrated GPS; the capacity of the battery is 230 Wh, i.e. 8 Ah at 28.8 V. When fully discharged, the charge time with the charger supplied is approximately 8 hours.

Lithium-manganese battery life expectancy: Charge cycles are not the main factor affecting the service life of the lithium-manganese battery. The battery does not have a memory-effect. Generally, a loss of capacity of 4% per year can be assumed. Aging is accelerated if the battery is exposed to high temperatures for long periods and if it is stored fully charged for long periods. Therefore, the battery can be used in very hot conditions, but should be removed from the sun and stored in a cool place when not used. If it is stored for a longer period of time, its charge status should be about 50%. If these instructions are followed, your battery will have a life expectancy of some 6-10 years.

1. Mounting ball attaches onto the top of the kayak. Ball-and-socket joint adapts to different kayak shapes. Only the small mounting ball is fixed permanently to the boat, the motor with all the other parts can be easily removed when not needed.
2. Extremely high-efficient drive train, performance comparable with 1 hp gas outboard (cable from outboard to battery 78.74 inch).
3. Auto kick-up feature to protect from grounding.
4. Attachement point for a line to manually tilt the motor.
5. Attachement point for the "reverse drive" line (only necessary to revers).
6. Connection to kayak steering / steering lock mechanism.
7. Lithium-manganese high-performance battery with integrated GPS-receiver.
8. Remote throttle control with magnetic on/off key and information display (incl. cable 59.06 inch).

It apears this unit would attach to almost any wooden kayak nicely.

Torqeedo: Product description
$1,799 at Jamestown Distributors

We are now a Premium Group

If you've not stopped in to Wooden Boat Builder in a couple of days, I have upgraded the group to "Premium". This takes are group to the next level for the low low price of $29.00 per year. What we get:

No Multiply advertisements for anyone visiting the group.
Full use of the right rail.
Hopefully some nifty new features we can take advantage of in the future.

Archives:
I've created an easier method to review our old posts via our Archives menu. I've coded this menu by date. Not surprisingly, the majority of our activity is within the first quarter of the year when we all have cabin fever for summers return.

More Content:
Additional links to interesting content.

Member Blogs:
Bog's Blog, Timmynocky, and Tom's Blog. Stop in and visit the blogs of our members. If you maintain a blog that should be on this list; comment about it and I will post it here.

Blog Roll:
These are blogs that I've found around the net that are on topic. If you know of a blog that should be on this list, please comment about it and I will add it to the list.

Organizations:
Some links to national organizations. The first, TSCA "Traditional Small Craft Association" is a fine organization that may have a club in your area. If they don't perhaps you may want to start one. ACBS is an organization I belong too. They are a 'click' of a bunch, but a fun organization to belong too. I think I need to renew...

By upgrading to premium, I hope that I have shown commitment to all of you and the group. Again, suggestions for additional content in the right rail is 'as always' welcome.

Calm Seas,

Kruez

1957 Ted Jones design - Miss Wahoo

The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum, located in Kent, Washington is currently building a replica of the 1957 Miss Wahoo based on an original Ted Jones set of plans.

Ted Jones designed and drove SLO-MO-SHUN IV, the first prop riding Thunderboat to run successfully. He piloted the IV to victory in all three heats of the 1950 APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River.

This was in the days when the Gold Cup race location was determined by the yacht club of the winning boat. Jones and the SLO-MO-SHUN IV represented the Seattle Yacht Club and thus were allowed to defend the cup on home waters in 1951. This was the start of a hydroplane tradition on Seattle's Lake Washington that continues to this day.

Between 1950 and 1966, Jones-designed Unlimiteds won 75 major races, including fourteen Gold Cups, and claimed an unprecedented ten consecutive National High Point Championships.

The Wahoo was one of four identical boats built in the mid 1950s from the same Ted Jones design. The 1955 Miss Thriftway, the 1956 Shanty-I the Miss Wahoo and Miss Spokane were all built by Les Staudacher from Ted’s drawings. The Museum had a copy of the Shanty-I plans in their archives and turned them over to Ron Jones Sr. so that he could draw plans for Vashon Unlimited’s Miss Thriftway project. When Bill Boeing Jr. and Scott Carson saw how perfectly the Vashon Miss Thriftway turned out, they decided that they wanted to see a Miss Wahoo, so they approached the Museum with an offer to fund the boat if they agreed to build it.

Construction on the Miss Wahoo replica is moving ahead at a phenomenal pace. Ron Jones delivered the revised plans to the Museum on Saturday September 6th. Construction started on September 15th, the whole boat was framed up by Thanksgiving and they turned her right side up on February 3rd.

Led by 2001 Gold Cup winner Mike Hanson and Vashon Unlimited’s Larry Fuller, the volunteer Miss Wahoo construction team is doing a beautiful job recreating the beautiful U-77. The crew is currently installing systems and is scheduled to deck the boat in about a month. Plans call for the boat to be completed and on the water running this summer, so if you want to see how a 1950’s vintage, wooden hydroplane was built stop in to the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Kent, Washington or visit the Miss Wahoo project site: misswahoo.com

You can also visit The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum on line at: http://www.thunderboats.org/

Mail Notice

Well its been a few weeks since I joined this group (Wooden Boat Builder). Still a lot to learn. My current problem is that I never get a e-mail advising of a post or a response to my post.

What am I doing wrong?

CB

Will Paddle For Whisky

I was at the dentist today fitting a new crown. While in the waiting room I picked up the latest copy of National Geographic: Adventure magazine. I flipped through to the table of contents and found "Will Paddle For Whisky".  It was an article about kayak'n your way between distilleries. I'm thinking; I like to paddle, I like single malt whiskey. How cool is that? I am just north of Kentucky (me like bourbon too) and they have a distillery tour that just can't be beat - until now.

Will Paddle For Whisky
Text by Andrew Todhunter
Photographs by David Leathborough

Scotland’s Inner Hebrides are a sea kayaker’s dream and home to some of the world’s best single malts. Yet no one has ever brought them together—until now.

"Paddling hard through spray-capped swells and breaking chop in 20-mile-an-hour winds, we rounded a ragged point on the western shore of Jura and set out across the Sound of Islay. Beyond the chaotic seas, the current ripping south, we could already see a brilliant smear of white in the distance, a telltale gleam that could be only one thing in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides: the broad, whitewashed, and stenciled wall of a single malt Scotch distillery. Our guide, Tony Hammock, estimated the force of the current, took a compass bearing, and shouted out our heading. If we kept this pace, he told us, we’d fight our way to the distillery within the hour.

This was good news. We’d been kayaking hard for most of the day. Our shoulders and backs ached, and the wisdom of a late spring paddling trip in western Scotland was falling into question. But then that daub of white bobbed onto the horizon. At the end of the crossing waited more than a dry place out of the wind. There was a golden dram of single malt whisky for each of us, straight from the hand of its maker, a spirit distilled, casked, bottled, and poured less than a stone’s throw from where we’d beach our kayaks."

Click here to read the article: - Scotland Adventure Travel - National Geographic Adventure Magazine

The trip/tour designed for National Geographic was organized by Sea Freedom Kayak: http://seafreedomkayak.co.uk/

Their photo gallery of the event: Sea kayak Scotland Islay and Jura 2008

The distilleries they visited and toured were Ardbeg, Bunnahabhain, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig, (my personal favorite). A flask of one of these will make any blustery outdoor adventure more complete.

Not entirely on topic I know, but indeed a good read for your morning coffee consumption.

Enjoy...

PHOTO UPDATE

I have just up-loaded some pictures that I missed before to the JEZEBEL II folder. They are #310 thru 314.

I was trying my new DSLR camera and the wide angle lens.

A FUN LINK

I just recently found a fun place to spend some time.

www.boatus.com/games , You don,t have to belong to try your hand at a fun

game. the game is "Dockit". When you go to the link above, pick the game you want to play. All games are boat related. Click on the "Member" or "Non-member" like to go into the game. The Dockit game has 3 different boats to use, you get to pick. There are 3-10 levels of difficulty.

Give it a try, you have to watch out for the winds, cross currents and other boat traffic.

CB